Page 22 of Drawn to You

He passed me a Dramamine when he walked out of the locker room, not saying a word. I’m assuming he’s angry about losing the game like the rest of the team seems to be.

It’s like a completely different group than last night. No one is talking or laughing.

I thought I’d be exhausted after getting so little sleep last night, but I was busy all day at the arena and I’m still running on adrenaline. I had my Zoom meeting, caught up on work emails and helped a Mammoths PR person who needed me to coordinate some things with the Boston PR people.

Keeping busy was a blessing because I didn’t have time to think about my mom. Even after three years, it still hurts. I hope the day comes when I can remember the good times and smile when I think about her.

Dane turns the power off on his phone, sighing heavily.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Fucking awesome,” he says angrily.

“Great.”

He glares at me. “The reason I needed my dry cleaning taken in is because you puked on my shirt the other night.”

“Oh yeah? Is that why you’re so pissed off right now?”

It takes him a couple of seconds to respond. “Might be.”

“So if I take your dry cleaning in tomorrow, will you stop being such a dick?”

“Maybe.”

“You’re projecting. You’re mad at someone else and you’re trying to make me think it’s about your shirt.”

“Thanks, Dr. Phil.”

My stomach turns as I think about getting on an airplane yet again. I don’t have much fight in me right now.

“I’ll take your dry cleaning in tomorrow. Only because I don’t have a busy day and because I’m a nice person. It doesn’t mean I’m your errand girl.”

“Thanks.”

I glance at him. “So I looked into that hashtag thing the reporter mentioned, and as your PR representative, I feel like I should tell you it’s trending majorly. And since I’m here to help rebuild your image, I think you should consider taking that woman on a date.”

He groans. “No. I don’t have time, and I don’t like clingy women.”

“Just one date. One dinner. You show up in a suit with flowers and take her out to dinner and that’s it. The internet would love it.”

“I’ll think about it,” he says, his tone indicating that he won’t.

The bus stops at the airport and everyone starts gathering up headphones and bottled drinks.

Whether or not my stomach is ready, we’re heading to Seattle.

CHAPTER NINE

Josie

“One java chip frap.”

I pass Gina the drink I got her on my Starbucks run and she gives me a grateful look.

“I’m naming my firstborn after you. I couldn’t sleep on the plane because of Parker’s snoring.”

We’re in the training room at the Seattle arena; puck drop still a few hours away. I got lucky last night—I was so tired I fell asleep against the plane window shortly after sitting down and didn’t wake up until the plane was descending. Of course, I threw up immediately, but it was only twenty minutes of misery, which is progress.

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